Sunlight VS CFLs - What is it gonna be ?

BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
High everyone,

This is a simple thread that might answer to a lot of questions.

For my last grow (Purple Widow), which is actually 18 days old and already show pre-flowers with 12/12 from seed, I have given her nothing but sunlight since the weather has been FANTASTIC for a while and her growth has been even better than other plants I have seen on RollItUp (no nutes:clap:).
But the end of the summer is coming, which means probable shitty weather to come for me.
So I decided to go buy 2 CFLs 32W to start my AK48 seeds (that I will receive soon) on a 12/12 period. It's gonna be a closet grow with white walls inside and a fan.

:?:- Should I expect a slower growth from these CFLs ?
:?:- Should I already plan for some nutes ?
:?:- A few weeks of veg would be better ?

Let me know people ! Thx !
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
Illegal Smile said:
You are starting seeds on 12/12?
Click to expand...
That's what I did for the first ones, basically 12 hours outside (sunlight) and 12 hours in the closet (total darkness).
One of them happened to be a male yesterday so I had to finish him. The other one is still unknown. But both plants were growing up very well.

So what should I expect with these CFLs ?

(I'll post up a pic of the female (I hope) tomorrow.)
 
woolypudding69

woolypudding69

Active Member
I get about 4 hours of sun in my windowsill, the rest I put them in the closet. It works well.
As to 12/12 from seed, I see alot of people doing it, but the yields just seem so small to me, I dont think I will ever do it...
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
It looks like CFLs seem to be underrated in the RIU community. I will stick to the idea of growing 12/12 from seed with them.

I do not plan on getting the best yield but more trying to figure out which growing process could be the best for my small closet.

Are CFLs the most common lights used for a closet grow ?
 
TheLastJuror

TheLastJuror

Well-Known Member
BlackBuddha said:
It looks like CFLs seem to be underrated in the RIU community. I will stick to the idea of growing 12/12 from seed with them.

I do not plan on getting the best yield but more trying to figure out which growing process could be the best for my small closet.

Are CFLs the most common lights used for a closet grow ?
Click to expand...
cfls are most common cuz they are cheap and energy efficient...if you wanna keep using sunlight, keep it outside day and night for like a couple weeks and then go 12/12 cuz that extra couple weeks adds just enough to get a decent yield
 
G

growone

Well-Known Member
BlackBuddha said:
It looks like CFLs seem to be underrated in the RIU community. I will stick to the idea of growing 12/12 from seed with them.

I do not plan on getting the best yield but more trying to figure out which growing process could be the best for my small closet.

Are CFLs the most common lights used for a closet grow ?
Click to expand...
i think small hps/mh are still the most common in the closet
the true number, only the smoke god knows
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
growone said:
i think small hps/mh are still the most common in the closet
the true number, only the smoke god knows
Click to expand...
Is it a right assumption from me to think that CFLs will not produce as much heat as a HPS bulb ? I have a 250W HPS but it is too hot for my closet.
Will the CFLs light suit better concerning the heat issue ?
 
Brick Top

Brick Top

New Member
BlackBuddha said:
Is it a right assumption from me to think that CFLs will not produce as much heat as a HPS bulb ? I have a 250W HPS but it is too hot for my closet.
Will the CFLs light suit better concerning the heat issue ?
Click to expand...

　
Pros and cons of CFLs

Pros
Cheap - most regular size bulbs cost less than $9
Low heat per bulb - most bulbs can be touched while lit, and can be moved closer to plants
Maneuverable - plants can be literally surrounded by cfls
Available - can be bought in almost any large retailer and many supermarkets and drugstores
Simple - no exterior ballast needed, fits into most regular incandescent sockets


Cons
Medium amount of lumens – multiple bulbs are needed to equal output of HID lights
More heat per watt than HID, albeit possibly spread out more
Depending on the setup, possibly complex wiring issues
No standard color temperature language yet
 
I

Illegal Smile

Guest
cfls work well and yes they are underrated. I don't understand the logic of giving seedlings or plants in veg 12/12 light. I light them 24/7 until flowering time.
 
TheLastJuror

TheLastJuror

Well-Known Member
Illegal Smile said:
cfls work well and yes they are underrated. I don't understand the logic of giving seedlings or plants in veg 12/12 light. I light them 24/7 until flowering time.
Click to expand...
ive grown both ways and i prefer your way 24/0 till flower but some people just want a faster harvest and cant wait
 
C

chitownsmoking

Guest
use the sun can you put them outside in pots? then if they dont finish by winter put them inside
 
KaleoXxX

KaleoXxX

Well-Known Member
id give your next batch a few weeks to veg man, i like everyone who posted before me, agree yields are too small with 12/12 from seeds. and actually they dont show sex until maturity, which is around the same time as if you veged for a while and then went to flower, so whats the point?
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
Brick Top said:
　
Pros and cons of CFLs

Pros
Cheap - most regular size bulbs cost less than $9
Low heat per bulb - most bulbs can be touched while lit, and can be moved closer to plants
Maneuverable - plants can be literally surrounded by cfls
Available - can be bought in almost any large retailer and many supermarkets and drugstores
Simple - no exterior ballast needed, fits into most regular incandescent sockets


Cons
Medium amount of lumens – multiple bulbs are needed to equal output of HID lights
More heat per watt than HID, albeit possibly spread out more
Depending on the setup, possibly complex wiring issues
No standard color temperature language yet
Click to expand...
Thanks for your answer Brick ! Clear and simple ! I will stick to the CFLs it suits me better.
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
chitownsmoking said:
use the sun can you put them outside in pots? then if they dont finish by winter put them inside
Click to expand...
Nah Man, I am still getting sun out here but because of some stealth issues I gotta be prepared to develop the plants inside.

Vacation is over, people are coming back around the neighborhood, I am not taking any risk...
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
TheLastJuror said:
ive grown both ways and i prefer your way 24/0 till flower but some people just want a faster harvest and cant wait
Click to expand...
I see what you mean but this would be just out of curiosity. I got one plant left (Purple Widow) until I receive my AK48 seeds and I just wanted to see what would happen.

As I said before she is 19 days year old got sunlight in 12/12 and looks really good so far.
For the AK48s I will veg them for at least 2 weeks, the thing is I gotta keep them short for the closet (I know a lil bit about topping and LST but still).
 
G

growone

Well-Known Member
there is a 12/12 thread over in indoor growing, i think
some good results there, it's all about fitting a plant in a smaller grow space without training, and earlier harvest
though you can train with 12/12
 
BlackBuddha

BlackBuddha

Well-Known Member
growone said:
there is a 12/12 thread over in indoor growing, i think
some good results there, it's all about fitting a plant in a smaller grow space without training, and earlier harvest
though you can train with 12/12
Click to expand...
Thanks for the 411 man, I'll check it out. :idea:

I will keep this thread alive to post the final result of the Purple Widow in a small closet with a 85W CFL that i just bought.
So far I didnt use any nutes but with all the comments that I read here I decided to purchase some Organic Bloom from Platinum Nutrients.

- What do you guys think ?
- Is the 85W CFL enough for one plant ?
- Does anybody else use Organic Bloom ? Good results ?

Peace !
 
Genosyde

Genosyde

Well-Known Member
ive got a seedling in my flowering space on 12/12 its growing pretty nice considering its only a few days old. i have a nice size plant in there already, this is just to see what i can yeild from a plant 12/12 from seed, got it in a 32 oz mickey d cup right now, might move it into my 1 gallon pot if i see its gonna be worthwhile
 
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